Within the History department our aims are that History should be meaningful, motivating, rigorous and yet accessible for all. Our subject should be a key vehicle for developing literacy and thinking skills. History should fire students’ curiosity of the past to inform our present and future. History should have both relevance and resonance for students. It should teach them about the diversity of human experience, about themselves both as individuals and as part of society. Historical enquiry should equip students with those skills prized by adults- the abilities to research, analyse evidence, to ask sensible challenging and searching questions about the world and not blindly accept - to think! Students should feel confident about themselves and their ability to argue a point of view from an informed opinion.
The department has three permanent specialist teachers and enjoys a suite of interactive whiteboards which helps bring learning to life. From Medieval dirt & disease to terrorism and beyond! It is our aim to give students the best overview of the most important turning points, developments and events in the history of humankind. We also aim to foster a passion and love of our subject and leave students hungry for more!
KS3 Curriculum:
At KS3 we cover the medieval, early modern and modern periods of History, moving chronologically through the eras while picking up three major themes…
1. POWER, PROTEST + CONFLICT
2. DAILY LIFE, ATTITUDES + BELIEFS
3. CIVILIZATIONS + EMPIRES
KS4 Curriculum:
GCSE History (School’s History Project)
Level : 1/2 Exam board: Edexcel
This is an interesting and varied course that covers a wide range of periods in History touching on aspects of ancient Greece and Rome right through to the 20th and 21st Centuries. The course is now modular.
Areas of study:
1. The American West: 1840 – 1895
We look at Indian life and early settlers, the White settlement of the Great Plains and the inevitable conflict between the two races and ways of life
This will count for 25% of your final mark.
2. A study in development: Medicine Through Time:
This course traces the development of medicine from the ancient civilisations of the Romans and Greeks, the Medieval period, the Renaissance, the Industrial Revolution and the 1900’s to present day! We look at what has progressed and held back medical developments and the repercussions that these had on the people of the time. The gore! The guts! The causes! The cures! The patients! The operations! And most importantly – THE PAIN!
This will count for 25% of your final mark.
3. The transformation of surgery c1845–c1918
Learn how the age old killers of blood loss, infection and excruciating pain were tackled. Along the way hear stories such as the one operation that led to three deaths!
This will count for 25% of your final mark.
4. Controlled assessment on… A history of crime and punishment in England c1880–c1990.
This will be based around a specific enquiry chosen by Edexcel each year. The enquiry will come from a range of topics such as: Jack the Ripper, Dr Crippen & the acid bath murders, Developments in investigative policing c1880–c 1990: Increasing specialism & use of forensic science and technology; creation of the CID (1878), Changing nature of crime: terrorism — IRA campaigns (1939–40, 1971–97); the influence of technology: computer & car crime: ‘new’ crimes or ‘old’ crimes in a new format?
This will count for 25% of your final mark.
Parents and students greatly appreciate the exceptionally rich curriculum available in lessons and well beyond.
- OFSTED 2009